General Awareness

ART AND CULTURE - December 2025

Dec 2025

Jan 28, 2026

Ajanta–Ellora 11th International Film Festival to begin January 28

The 11th Ajanta–Ellora International Film Festival (AEIFF) commences January 28, 2026, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The opening program at 5:00 pm will feature the Spanish film Siret. The festival brings together national and international cinema, with Padmapani Award to Ilaiyaraaja for his contributions to Indian cinema. Guests include festival leadership, university officials and notable film professionals such as Resul Pookutty. The event showcases diverse storytelling from across the region and the world, highlighting cross-cultural exchange in cinema and music.

AEIFF 11th edition opens January 28, 2026 in Sambhajinagar.
Opening film: Siret (Spain).
Padmapani Award to Ilaiyaraaja.
High-profile attendees include industry and academic leaders.

Jan 27, 2026

Bharat Parv 2026 Begins at Red Fort

Bharat Parv 2026, the national culture and tourism festival, began at Red Fort in New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the six-day event, designed to showcase India’s cultural heritage and regional diversity. The festival aims to strengthen public engagement with constitutional ideals and promote livelihoods through handicrafts, handlooms and cuisine. State pavilions and performances are planned to highlight different regions, while discussions on culture and history align with the broader vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and increased tourism potential.

Event: Bharat Parv 2026 at Red Fort, New Delhi.
Inaugurated by Om Birla and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Six-day festival showcasing culture, heritage and regional diversity.
Focus on handicrafts, handlooms and cuisine for livelihoods.
Part of a larger effort to promote tourism and constitutional values.

Jan 26, 2026

ISKCON Belagavi to host Hare Krishna Ratha Yatra Mahotsav; drama to feature

ISKCON Belagavi will host the Hare Krishna Ratha Yatra Mahotsav on January 24-25. Devotees will also present an hour-long drama depicting Lord Krishna’s pastimes. The festival combines devotional processions with cultural programs, aiming to showcase sacred traditions and regional devotion. Organisers expect participants from nearby communities and visiting devotees to join the celebrations, which will include music, dance and storytelling alongside the procession.

Event dates: January 24-25
Location: Belagavi, Karnataka
Main program: Hare Krishna Ratha Yatra Mahotsav
Additional activity: story-drama on Krishna’s pastimes
Audience: local and visiting devotees

Navagraha Symphony: Chennai to host Indian premiere on January 23

Chennai will host the Indian premiere of the Navagraha Symphony on January 23, 2026, as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. Violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam will lead the performance, a 45-minute work inspired by Indian cosmology. The piece combines Sanskrit shlokas with a full symphony orchestra, choir, dancers and guest musicians. Festival director Kavita Krishnamurti says the event aims to offer a rare, immersive experience that blends Western symphonic form with Indian tradition.

Date: January 23, 2026
Event: Navagraha Symphony Indian premiere
Performer: Dr. L. Subramaniam
Length: 45 minutes
Format: orchestra, choir, dancers, shlokas

25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav to begin January 27; women directors featured

The 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the annual marquee theatre festival of the National School of Drama, will begin on January 27. The festival will present 277 Indian and 12 international productions across 40 centres nationwide, in 228 languages and dialects. It features 33 women directors and includes 19 university and 14 local productions. Groups from Russia, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy and Nepal will participate, with theatre from 15 countries overall. Director Chittaranjan Tripathy said the festival will showcase productions from every continent, spanning classical to avant-garde forms, including musical and folk theatre. The drama schedule is still to be announced.

Start date: January 27, 2026
Productions: 277 Indian, 12 international
Centres: 40 nationwide
Languages: 228 varieties
Women directors: 33

Jan 24, 2026

BHU 111th foundation day celebrations in Varanasi

BHU’s 111th foundation day will be celebrated on 23 January 2026 at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The programme includes prayers, campus processions, science exhibitions, student performances, and interactions with scholars and alumni. Speakers will emphasise the university’s academic excellence and its role in regional development. The anniversary aligns with Republic Day celebrations and seeks to inspire students with the heritage of BHU founders and national builders. Organisers will announce future projects and collaborations to advance research and education. The event will bring participation from students, faculty, and guests from across the country. Source: Times of India.

BHU foundation day on 23 January 2026 in Varanasi.
Ceremonies include prayers, processions and cultural programs.
Science exhibitions and alumni interactions planned.
Focus on BHU’s academic excellence and regional impact.

Navagraha Symphony to premiere in Chennai on 23 January 2026

Navagraha Symphony, a joint project by Indian and international composers, will have its Chennai premiere on 23 January 2026 as part of the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival. The production blends Western symphonic technique with Indian musical motifs, performed by a full orchestra, choir, soloists, and dancers. The performance is designed to showcase cultural fusion and attract audiences from across the country and abroad. Organisers say the program reflects a contemporary expression of Indian cosmology and artistry, offering a novel experience while promoting cross-cultural dialogue. It is expected to boost tourism and cultural exchange during Republic Day season. Source: Times of India.

Chennai premiere on 23 January 2026 as part of LGMF.
Musical fusion of Western and Indian traditions.
Features full orchestra, choir and dancers.
Aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue and tourism.

Jan 22, 2026

233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript gifted to Ayodhya museum

Ayodhya, 22 January 2026 — In a landmark cultural handover, a 233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript with Tattvadipikatika commentary was gifted to the Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya, Culture Ministry officials stated. The manuscript, dated Vikrama Samvat 1849 (1792 CE), comprises five principal cantos and reflects the epic’s textual tradition. Authored by Valmiki and annotated by Maheshvara Tirtha, it was previously loaned to Rashtrapati Bhavan and is now permanently housed at the Antarrashtriya Ram Katha Sangrahalaya in Ayodhya. The gift highlights India’s efforts to preserve ancient Sanskrit manuscripts and elevate Ayodhya’s role as a cultural hub of the Ramayana tradition.

Manuscript: Valmikiramayanam with Tattvadipikatika commentary
Date: Vikrama Samvat 1849 (1792 CE)
Contents: Five principal kanaas (Balakanda, Aranyakanda, Kiskindhakanda, Sundarakanda, Yuddhakanda)
Previous custody: Loaned to Rashtrapati Bhavan; now in Ayodhya museum
Significance: Preservation of Sanskrit epic tradition

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